Lots of Brits will be jetting off to sunnier climes this half term and taking advantage of countries easing their travel rules ahead of the summer season. Although the UK scrapped all of its travel rules in March this year, other destinations have taken a more gradual approach.
On Saturday Spain announced that it was relaxing its entry requirements, allowing unvaccinated holidaymakers to enter the country, provided they show a negative coronavirus test result. There are dozens of countries where you can travel to without being vaccinated or having to take a test.
There’s been a huge surge in demand for foreign holidays in recent weeks, as many travellers have booked their first trip abroad since the pandemic began. Airlines including Jet2, TUI and Ryanair have already reported a huge increase in bookings for popular destinations such as Spain and the Canary Islands over the past few months, Liverpool Echo reports.
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Yet it’s still important to be aware that there are some travel rules remaining, which vary according to your destination. Here’s what you need to know if you’re travelling to Greece, Spain, France or Turkey.
Greece
Greece recently relaxed all of its Covid rules. As of May 1, travellers arriving from the UK do not need to show a vaccine certificate or proof of a negative test any more. Unvaccinated visitors are also able to enter the country without testing prior to travel.
You no longer need to complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF). Travellers are still required to wear a protective masks in all indoor spaces, including aircraft.
However, some visitors may be asked to undertake a rapid lateral flow test on arrival in the country. If you test positive on arrival in Greece, you (and those you are travelling with) will have to self-isolate for at least 5 days at home or in quarantine hotels provided by the Greek state.
If you have no symptoms on day 5, or your symptoms have improved (e.g. having no fever for the past 24 hours without the use of medicine), you will be allowed to end your quarantine. However, if you still have a fever you will be required to continue to quarantine until your fever drops.
Here, we take a look at the rules for other destinations that are popular with British tourists.
Spain
Spanish authorities have finally ditched rules that meant only vaccinated tourists could enter the nation.
The Spanish Government confirmed those who have not had a coronavirus jab can now travel to the country by showing a negative PCR or antigen test on arrival.
The new rules came into place on Saturday, May 21, in a bid to attract more tourists to Spain over the summer months, according to Spanish tourism minister Reyes Maroto. He said: "This is excellent news, much awaited by the tourism sector."
Travellers from EU and non-EU countries must present one of the following documents:
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Certificate of vaccination against Covid - second or third/booster dose in the last nine months.
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Certificate of recovery - issued in the last 180 days The certificate must have been issued at least 11 days after confirmation of infection with Covid by a PCR or antigen test
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Negative PCR test - carried out in the 72 hours prior to departure to Spain, or negative antigen test results carried out in the 24 hours prior to departure to Spain.
France
There are a number of rules anyone travelling to France must follow.
The country has been plunged into lockdown three times, and some restrictions were recently reintroduced after cases rose steadily again. What you must do before entering France depends on your vaccination status.
Fully vaccinated travellers aged 12 and above must provide proof of vaccination status on entry to France. As of March 31, travellers from the UK aged 12 and above who are not fully vaccinated need to provide a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours or an antigen test result taken within 48 hours pre-departure.
All children under 12 are exempt from covid travel restrictions in France.
France will accept the UK’s proof of COVID-19 recovery and vaccination record at the border. The French Government recognises any vaccination certificates that conform to EU norms. This means your final dose must have been administered at least seven days prior to travel for Oxford/AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna or 28 days after a second dose of Johnson & Johnson.
If more than nine months have elapsed since your initial course, and you have not since received a booster, you will be considered unvaccinated and must follow the rules for unvaccinated travellers.
Turkey
Fully vaccinated travellers can enter Turkey without needing to test or quarantine. At least 14 days must have passed since your second dose of the vaccine and the vaccine must be approved by the Turkish Ministry of Health or WHO.
If you’re not fully vaccinated, you’ll need to show proof of a negative PCR test (taken no more than 72 hours before entry), rapid antigen test (taken no more than 48 hours before entry), or proof of a recent recovery from Covid-19 within the last six months, when entering Turkey. Children aged 11 and under are exempt.
You must wear a face mask at all times whilst in an airport, and for the duration of all flights, to and from Turkey. Face masks are no longer required outdoors or indoors once in Turkey, though social distancing remains in place.
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